Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Campbell has filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration over new federal data reporting requirements for colleges and universities.

Campbell joined attorneys general from 16 other states in challenging a new federal survey requirement added to the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), a mandatory reporting system used by the U.S. Department of Education.

The new reporting rule is intended to track whether colleges are complying with the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2023 decision in Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard, which ruled that race cannot be used as a factor in college admissions.

After the 2023 ruling, Campbell signed a Healey administration letter supporting the continued use of racial preferences in college admissions.

State officials argue the new reporting rules were rushed and place heavy burdens on colleges while raising concerns about student privacy. However, proponents say they're necessary to prevent racial discrimination against white and Asian students in college admissions.

“This Administration's unlawful and haphazard actions are threatening the wellbeing of Massachusetts students and the prosperity of our colleges and universities,” Campbell said in a statement. “There is no way for institutions to reasonably deliver accurate data in the federal government's rushed and arbitrary timeframe.”

What the Federal Policy Requires

The dispute centers on a new survey added to the federal IPEDS reporting system after a directive from President Donald Trump in August 2025.

Under the new rules, colleges must submit admissions data broken down by race and sex for applicants, admitted students, and enrolled students.

The federal government is also requiring universities to submit historical admissions information covering the past seven academic years.

The data would include information such as grade point averages, standardized test scores, financial aid offered, family income ranges, and graduation outcomes.

Colleges that fail to provide the information could face fines or risk losing federal student aid funding tied to the reporting system.

States Argue the Rules Were Rushed

Campbell and the coalition argue that the federal government imposed the new reporting rules too quickly and without clear guidance for universities.

The lawsuit says the Department of Education did not provide definitions for key terms and implemented the survey without the normal review process used for federal education data collections.

State officials also say the detailed data breakdown could create privacy risks by making it easier to identify individual students.

The coalition argues the federal government’s actions violate administrative law and place unnecessary burdens on colleges and universities.

Multistate Lawsuit Filed in Boston

The lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts.

Joining Campbell in the lawsuit are attorneys general from California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin.

The coalition is asking the court to block the reporting requirement before the March 18 deadline for universities to submit the new admissions data.

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FAQ: Massachusetts Lawsuit Over Federal College Data Rules

Why is Massachusetts suing the Trump administration?

Massachusetts and 16 other states argue that the federal government imposed new college admissions data reporting rules too quickly and without proper procedures.

What data are colleges required to report?

Universities must submit admissions data broken down by race and sex, including information about applicants, test scores, financial aid, and graduation outcomes.

Why did the Trump administration create the new rule?

Federal officials say the reporting requirement will help ensure colleges comply with the Supreme Court’s decision banning race-based admissions.

What are states concerned about?

State officials say the rushed reporting rules could lead to inaccurate data, create administrative burdens for colleges, and risk exposing sensitive student information.

What happens next in the case?

The lawsuit asks a federal court in Massachusetts to block the new reporting requirement before the March 18 reporting deadline.